| Global backlash grows against Trump's immigration order Posted: 29 Jan 2017 11:15 AM PST  By Maher Chmaytelli and Lin Noueihed BAGHDAD/CAIRO (Reuters) - A global backlash against U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration curbs gathered strength on Sunday as several countries including long-standing American allies criticized the measures as discriminatory and divisive. Governments from London and Berlin to Jakarta and Tehran spoke out against Trump's order to put a four-month hold on allowing refugees into the United States and temporarily ban travelers from Syria and six other Muslim-majority countries. In Germany - which has taken in large numbers of people fleeing the Syrian civil war - Chancellor Angela Merkel said the global fight against terrorism was no excuse for the measures and "does not justify putting people of a specific background or faith under general suspicion", her spokesman said.
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| Trump says U.S. will resume issuing visas to all countries over next 90 days Posted: 29 Jan 2017 01:59 PM PST  President Donald Trump, trying to quell a backlash over his "extreme vetting" order, said the United States would resume issuing visas to all countries once secure policies are put in place over the next 90 days. Under an order he signed on Friday, immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries were barred from entering the United States. The decision has drawn large protests at many U.S. airports, where some travelers from those countries have been stranded.
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| Saudi king agrees in call with Trump to support Syria, Yemen safe zones: White House Posted: 29 Jan 2017 01:53 PM PST  WASHINGTON/RIYADH (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman, in a phone call on Sunday with U.S. President Donald Trump, agreed to support safe zones in Syria and Yemen, a White House statement said. Trump, during his presidential campaign last year, had called for Gulf states to pay for establishing safe zones to protect Syrian refugees.
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| Commando dies in U.S. raid in Yemen, first military op OK'd by Trump Posted: 29 Jan 2017 02:46 PM PST  By Mohammed Ghobari and Phil Stewart SANAA/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. commando died and three others were wounded carrying out a deadly dawn raid on the al Qaeda militant group in southern Yemen on Sunday, in the first military operation authorized by President Donald Trump. The U.S. military said it killed 14 militants in a raid on a powerful al Qaeda branch that has been a frequent target of U.S. drone strikes.
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| France's Macron gets boost from left as scandal-hit Fillon falters Posted: 29 Jan 2017 03:59 PM PST  By Ingrid Melander and Michel Rose PARIS (Reuters) - French centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron's election campaign took a step forward on Sunday as the Socialist party chose a champion with a hard-left agenda and the center right battled to contain a scandal over fake pay. Thousands of supporters gave embattled conservative candidate Francois Fillon and his wife, Penelope, a rousing ovation at a rally in a show of support after his campaign was thrown off track by allegations of misuse of public funds relating to employment she carried out. The ruling Socialists produced the last main candidate for the election, due to take place in April and May. They chose leftwinger Benoit Hamon for the ticket, a move likely only to boost the chances of winning for Macron, an independent.
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| Yemen says Trump's travel ban on Muslims supports extremists Posted: 29 Jan 2017 02:18 PM PST  Yemen believes that U.S. President Donald Trump's temporary ban on certain Muslims traveling to the United States supports extremists, a news agency run by the Saudi-allied government reported on Sunday. The impoverished and war-damaged country on the southern coast of the Arabian Peninsula is one of seven Muslim-majority countries whose citizens face a 90-day ban on entering the United States. Yemen's northern regions, including the capital Sanaa and the country's largest international airport, are controlled by the Iran-allied Houthi group while its internationally recognized government is based in the south and east.
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| US, S. Korea to 'strengthen' defenses against N. Korea Posted: 29 Jan 2017 05:40 PM PST  US President Donald Trump and South Korea's Acting President Hwang Kyo-Ahn vowed to "strengthen" their joint defense capabilities against the belligerent North, the White House said. "President Trump reiterated our ironclad commitment to defend the ROK, including through the provision of extended deterrence, using the full range of military capabilities," the White House said in a statement, using an acronym for the South's formal name.
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| Top Asian News 1:37 a.m. GMT Posted: 29 Jan 2017 05:37 PM PST YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — A gunman killed a legal adviser for Myanmar's ruling National League for Democracy on Sunday, shooting the lawyer in the head at close range as he walked out of the Yangon airport, the government said. The gunman was arrested after he killed Ko Ni, a prominent member of Myanmar's Muslim minority, and wounded a taxi driver who tried to stop him from fleeing, the Ministry of Information said in a video posted on state-run MRTV. Ko Ni was the Supreme Court advocate for the NLD and a longstanding legal adviser to the country's leader Aung San Suu Kyi. |
| Miss Universe contest starts in scandal-hit Philippines Posted: 29 Jan 2017 05:36 PM PST  MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Miss Universe contest has started in the Philippines, a country deeply fascinated with beauty contests but also under an international spotlight because of the president's bloody crackdown on illegal drugs and a police scandal.
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| Simmonds, Gretzky engineer Metropolitans' All-Star Game win Posted: 29 Jan 2017 05:35 PM PST  LOS ANGELES (AP) — Wayne Simmonds' first All-Star weekend after a nine-year NHL career was strange enough. Having Wayne Gretzky for a coach made it even more surreal.
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| Colts hire Kansas City's Ballard as general manager Posted: 29 Jan 2017 05:20 PM PST INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay is turning to another first-time general manager to get his franchise back on track. |
| Trump defends travel bans as thousands protest and criticism rises Posted: 29 Jan 2017 05:12 PM PST  By Doina Chiacu and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his move to ban entry of refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority nations and said the United States would resume issuing visas for all countries in the next 90 days as he faced rising criticism at home and abroad and new protests in U.S. cities. Trump signed the directive on Friday, but the policy appeared to be evolving on the fly. Democrats and a growing number of Republicans assailed the move amid court challenges and tumult at U.S. airports.
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| Macedonia conservatives fail to reach deal with Albanians Posted: 29 Jan 2017 05:11 PM PST SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) — Macedonia's conservative leader Nikola Gruevski has failed to reach a deal with his traditional ethnic Albanian coalition partner to form a new cabinet, minutes after the deadline expired at midnight Sunday. |
| Payet rejoins Marseille after forcing move from West Ham Posted: 29 Jan 2017 05:05 PM PST  France playmaker Dimitri Payet has re-joined his former club Marseille after forcing a move from West Ham — the Premier League club that helped to galvanize his career — just two days before the end of European soccer's transfer window.
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| Jordan's Abdullah to press Trump administration to step up war on Islamist militants Posted: 29 Jan 2017 04:38 PM PST  By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan's King Abdullah will hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump's administration in Washington on Monday on how to bolster the kingdom's domestic security amid the growing risk of Islamic State militant attacks, officials and diplomats said. A meeting was expected to be arranged with Trump, one official said, but there was no official confirmation.
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| White House: Immigration order 'small price' for safety Posted: 29 Jan 2017 04:23 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Sunday tried to tamp down concerns about President Donald Trump's sweeping immigration order in the face of widespread protests, as some Republicans in Congress urged him to proceed with caution in the face of legal pushback. Top congressional Republicans, however, remain largely behind the new president.
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| Trump travel ban sows chaos at airports, outrage at protests Posted: 29 Jan 2017 04:18 PM PST  NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump's immigration order sowed more chaos and outrage across the country Sunday, with travelers getting detained at airports, panicked families searching for relatives and protesters marching against the sweeping measure that was blocked by several federal courts.
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| Brittany Lincicome wins LPGA Tour opener in playoff Posted: 29 Jan 2017 04:14 PM PST PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas (AP) — Brittany Lincicome won the LPGA Tour's season-opening Pure Silk Bahamas Classic on Sunday in wind and some late rain, beating U.S. Solheim Cup teammate Lexi Thompson with a birdie on the first hole of a playoff. |
| U.N. experts warn Saudi-led coalition allies over war crimes in Yemen Posted: 29 Jan 2017 04:14 PM PST  By Michelle Nichols UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - A Saudi Arabia-led military coalition has carried out attacks in Yemen that "may amount to war crimes," U.N. sanctions monitors reported to the world body's Security Council, warning coalition allies including the United States, Britain and France that they are obligated to respect international humanitarian law. The annual report by the experts who monitor sanctions and the conflict in Yemen, seen by Reuters on Saturday, investigated 10 coalition air strikes between March and October that killed at least 292 civilians, including some 100 women and children. "In eight of the 10 investigations, the panel found no evidence that the air strikes had targeted legitimate military objectives," the experts wrote in a 63-page report presented to the Security Council on Friday.
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| Britain says U.S. immigration curbs do not apply to UK travelers Posted: 29 Jan 2017 04:13 PM PST  (Reuters) - Britain's Foreign Office said that U.S. President Donald Trump's travel restrictions only applied to individuals traveling from the seven named countries, so people arriving from other countries, including the United Kingdom, would not be subject to more checks regardless of nationality or place of birth. British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson, who earlier on Sunday said it was divisive and wrong to stigmatize because of nationality, had sought clarification from the U.S. government, the Foreign Office said late on Sunday. The Foreign Office also clarified that dual nationals, with citizenship from Britain and one of the seven countries, will only be subject to extra checks if they travel to the United States from one of the targeted countries.
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| Senegal's loss is Liverpool's gain as Mane returns Posted: 29 Jan 2017 04:11 PM PST  MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Senegal's heartbreaking loss in the African Cup of Nations could be Liverpool's gain in the Premier League.
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| Canada to offer temp permits to those stranded by Trump ban Posted: 29 Jan 2017 04:01 PM PST  TORONTO (AP) — Canada will offer temporary residency permits to travelers who become stranded here by President Donald Trump's order banning travelers from seven Muslim-majority nations, the immigration minister said Sunday.
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| New Socialist presidential candidate Hamon calls on left to unite Posted: 29 Jan 2017 03:59 PM PST PARIS (Reuters) - Hard-left Socialist Benoit Hamon, who won his party's ticket for this spring's French presidential election on Sunday, called on the Socialist party, independent leftwinger Jean-Luc Melenchon, and a Green candidate to unite. "I will propose to them that we build a coherent and durable government majority," Hamon told supporters. Opinion polls have been showing that Melenchon could win well over 10 percent of the popular vote in the April election, more than the Socialist party has been seen as likely to get. ... |
| Poll of voting intentions shows France's Fillon lost ground to centrist Macron Posted: 29 Jan 2017 03:59 PM PST French presidential frontrunner Francois Fillon lost ground in his campaign for this spring's election to centrist candidate Emmanuel Macron, according to a Kantar-Sofres poll of voting intentions for Le Figaro newspaper published on Sunday. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen would come first in the election's first round in April with 25 percent of the votes, while Fillon would garner 21-22 percent and Macron 20-21 percent, the poll showed. In the runoff to be held on May 7, both Fillon, a conservative, and Macron were seen winning if either was pitted against Le Pen, while Macron would beat Fillon in the knockout. |
| Silva scores in stoppage time as Monaco draws 1-1 at PSG Posted: 29 Jan 2017 03:51 PM PST  PARIS (AP) — Just when it seemed Monaco had gifted Paris Saint-Germain three points, Portuguese midfielder Bernardo Silva popped up with a precious late goal to earn a 1-1 draw that kept his side top of the league.
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| Britain wins exemption on Trump visa ban as PM faces criticism Posted: 29 Jan 2017 03:50 PM PST  British Prime Minister Theresa May faced criticism on Sunday for her initial response to Donald Trump's border clampdown, as the UK won an exemption for its citizens from the US president's restrictions. Shortly after the prime minister held talks with Trump at the White House on Friday, the new president signed an executive order to suspend refugee arrivals and impose tough new controls on travellers from seven Muslim countries. Trump's move prompted an online petition to stop him making a planned state visit to Britain, a regal and glitzy affair which involves formalities such as a royal banquet in the Buckingham Palace Ballroom.
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| Senator McCain: Trump immigration order confusing Posted: 29 Jan 2017 03:49 PM PST  U.S. Senator John McCain said on Sunday that President Donald Trump's order targeting immigration from seven predominantly Muslim countries has been "confusing" and raised a number of questions. "It's been a very confusing process," McCain, a Republican and chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told CBS' 'Face the Nation.' McCain said the effect of Trump's immigration order "will probably, in some areas, give ISIS (Islamic State) some more propaganda," and asked why the countries targeted by the order included Iraq, where U.S. forces are fighting alongside Iraqi forces against Islamic State.
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| Canada offers temporary home to those stranded by Trump order Posted: 29 Jan 2017 03:46 PM PST  Canada will offer temporary residence permits to people stranded in the country as a result of US President Donald Trump's travel ban, the immigration ministry said Sunday. "Let me assure those who may be stranded in Canada that I will use my authority as minister to provide them with temporary residency if needed as we have done in the past," Immigration Minister Ahmed Hussen said at a news conference. Trump on Friday suspended the arrival of all refugees to the US for at least 120 days and barred entry for 90 days to people from seven Muslim-majority countries: Iraq, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
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| The Latest: Thousands protest traveler ban in San Francisco Posted: 29 Jan 2017 03:45 PM PST  LONDON (AP) — The Latest on President Donald Trump, his travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries and other immigration actions (all times local):
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| Military: First-known combat death since Trump in office Posted: 29 Jan 2017 03:42 PM PST  WASHINGTON (AP) — It's been described as the greatest burden any commander in chief must bear.
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| Mexican president gets new invite to US -- from border state Posted: 29 Jan 2017 03:42 PM PST SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto has a new diplomatic invitation to visit the United States after canceling a trip to Washington in response to President Donald Trump's plans to build a border wall — this time from a trio of Democratic lawmakers in the heavily Hispanic state of New Mexico. |
| Trump's first major test is travel ban uproar Posted: 29 Jan 2017 03:39 PM PST  Donald Trump came under fire from mass protests and global outrage over his controversial ban on travelers from seven Muslim countries, facing the first real test of his nine-day administration. The ban was criticized by allies, sparked confusion over its implementation and galvanized Democrats looking for a lightning rod to beat Trump. Thousands of demonstrators poured onto the streets and gathered at airports for two consecutive days to denounce the executive order as lawyers fought for the release of those detained on arrival -- many of them were in mid-air when Trump signed the decree.
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| Syrian musician in limbo after travel ban Posted: 29 Jan 2017 03:24 PM PST  BEIRUT (AP) — A Syrian musician who was allowed to legally immigrate to the United States on account of his "extraordinary" abilities, and who recently toured with famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma, is now wondering whether he can return to his Brooklyn home.
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| UK Olympic hero Farah slams 'prejudice' of Trump border move Posted: 29 Jan 2017 03:20 PM PST  British athletics legend Mo Farah on Sunday said he was "relieved" to be exempt from an immigration clampdown by US President Donald Trump, while asserting he "fundamentally disagrees" with the policy. Double-double Olympic champion Farah was born in Somalia but has lived in Britain since the age of eight, and was knighted by the Queen this year for his services to British sport. Farah and his family are based in Oregon but he is currently training in Ethiopia, prompting concern that the athlete would be affected by Trump's entry ban for people from seven Muslim majority countries, including Somalia.
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| Trump defends travel bans as thousands protest and criticism rises Posted: 29 Jan 2017 02:55 PM PST  By Doina Chiacu and Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Sunday defended his move to ban entry of refugees and people from seven Muslim-majority nations and said the United States would resume issuing visas for all countries in the next 90 days as he faced rising criticism at home and abroad and new protests in U.S. cities. Trump signed the directive on Friday, but the policy appeared to be evolving on the fly. Democrats and a growing number of Republicans assailed the move amid court challenges and tumult at U.S. airports.
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| Trump, Saudi king back 'rigorously' enforcing Iran nuclear deal Posted: 29 Jan 2017 02:48 PM PST  President Donald Trump and Saudi King Salman want to "rigorously" enforce the Iran nuclear deal, the White House said Sunday, despite the US leader's long opposition to the agreement. The pair, in a phone conversation, also spoke of the need to address Iran's "destabilizing regional activities," fight the spread of "radical Islamic terrorism" and establish safe zones in war-ravaged Syria and Yemen, the White House statement read. Trump opposed the nuclear agreement signed by Israel's arch-foe Iran and world powers, including the United States, in 2015 and has said he wants to undo it.
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| Hard work starts now for France's Socialist candidate Posted: 29 Jan 2017 02:39 PM PST  PARIS (AP) — Beating a politically weakened ex-prime minister proved easy for Benoit Hamon, who will represent France's ruling Socialist Party in the country's presidential election. Far harder will be convincing voters that his hard-left platform isn't the recipe for ruin his critics claim.
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| Madrid beats Real Sociedad to increase Spanish league lead Posted: 29 Jan 2017 02:25 PM PST  MADRID (AP) — Real Madrid saw its rivals falter and then did its part against Real Sociedad, winning 3-0 with a goal and an assist by Cristiano Ronaldo to increase its lead in the Spanish league.
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